“Are you a shepherd?” That question was posed to me in a congregational interview to be a lead pastor of a small CRC church in Boulder, Colo. As a freshly ordained minister, I was unprepared for the question, so I found myself fumbling through an improvised response. Although my ad-hoc reply didn’t derail them from calling me to the position, almost 20 years later, I still reflect back on how I would respond differently now.

As church leaders—be it pastor, elder, deacon, or ministry director—we are all shepherds. The Apostle Peter captured this analogy at the end of his first letter: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be (1 Peter 5:2). Peter goes on to point out that we are better understood as associate shepherds to the chief shepherd Jesus—but what does it mean to be an associate shepherd? How do we incorporate the uniqueness of who we are into that important role? It is a critical self-reflection question that all leaders should ask themselves.

I received my answer to that question on the first day of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain in 2017. A couple of years earlier, I had accepted a call to a larger church in the Midwest. New location, different context, and fresh challenges found me struggling in my leadership identity. I was hoping the pilgrimage walk would offer some insight. It wasn’t long in coming. On a beautiful spring day as I was crossing over a pass in the Pyrenees Mountains, I encountered a large flock of free-roaming sheep. The Holy Spirit triggered a dim memory about sheepdogs, and I immediately started scanning the flock for the presence of one. Although I never saw a dog, God used the moment to formulate an analogy that helped me immensely with my pastoral identity as a leader. Specifically, I considered the different types of sheepdogs that help a shepherd lead his flock.

Shepherds were among the first to domesticate dogs to help them with their work. They utilize sheepdogs as a type of associate shepherd to get the sheep where they need to go, as well as keep them safe from predators. Although there are many breeds, they are generally divided into two categories, each with its own behaviors, traits, and temperament that allows them to fulfill their designated role.

The most widely known are called herding dogs, found in breeds like border collies and Australian shepherds. They are characterized by their high energy, deep need for doing tasks, and strong attachment to their shepherd masters. They feel their best with the presence of routine, order, training, and rules. In the eyes of a herding dog, sheep are objects to be moved in a specific direction. As such, they experience reward and satisfaction from the shepherd by getting sheep to the right place.

The other and older breed is known as a guardian dog, found in breeds such as the Great Pyrenees and Maremma Sheepdog, trace their lineage back more than 2,500 years to the Roman republic. Left alone with the flock for long periods of time, their only task was to protect the sheep from wolves and other predators. Bred to be nurturing and protective of their charges, they are highly bonded to their flocks. Contrary to herding breeds, guardian dogs appear to have lower energy. If observed in the daylight, they might be wandering around the flock checking in, or they might just be laying in the sun sleeping. Unlike herding dogs, they patrol the perimeter of the flock, especially at night. They keep threats at bay by barking into the darkness with a voice that is deep and authoritative. In the eyes of a guardian dog, sheep aren’t objects to be moved, but rather family to be protected. They experience reward and satisfaction in keeping the flock safe.

While shepherding is a prevalent theme in Scripture, sheepdogs are never mentioned. So like all analogies, this is a reductionist way of looking at the challenges and limitations of leadership. Furthermore, as church leaders, clearly we are not exclusively one type because our gifts and traits for leadership are far more complex than those of dogs. But it is helpful to recognize the limits of our abilities and identify whether we lean toward one type or the other. I assert this because my observation is that the “church-industrial complex” tends to tell its leaders that if we want to be effective, we need to possess a herding dog mentality. We should have high energy, exhibit a deep need for accomplishing successful missions, focus on completing tasks, create routine and order, all with the aim of moving people in a certain direction. All those attributes are valued and necessary, and should be celebrated. However, we should recognize it is not the only form of leading God’s people.

A church leader can also be like a guardian dog, not by herding the congregation, but by providing a protective environment to nurture their growth and explore their faith. Parallel to guardian dogs’ deep bond with their flock, guardian leaders are closely connected to their congregation, understanding their needs and guarding them against spiritual dangers. While they may seem calm and steady, they maintain a watchful eye, particularly when threats loom. Their authoritative voice might not be polished in prose, but it is trusted and serves to guard and reassure the flock. To a guardian leader, the church is not only a group to be managed, but a family to be cherished and safeguarded. They find fulfillment in the safety and well-being of those they are called to serve.

Thus, answering the question “Are you a shepherd?” begins with a healthy dose of introspection. As St. Augustine and John Calvin each have asserted, service to God requires self-awareness (Confessions 10.27, and Institutes 1.1.1). That awareness then allows our response to be more than a simple “yes” or “no.” It might also protect us from feeling like failures because of unmet expectations. In the end, we need to recognize that our leadership style doesn’t have to fulfill all the needs of the flock. As sheepdogs, it is enough to be equipped to do one or the other; either leading God’s people toward new pastures or dwelling and protecting them from the threats of darkness. If we do that faithfully, as Peter rightly points out: And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away (1 Peter 5:4).